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Citi Field opened to its first visitors yesterday, but the occasion was not a Mets but a NCAA baseball game between St. John's and Georgetown. It was still an unmissable opportunity for Mets fans, though, who flocked to the reported $800 million stadium. Newsday reports, "Not everything was ready - no distances painted on the outfield walls, no retired Mets numbers or championship banners displayed yet, about 10 blank scoreboard advertising panels - and nobody knew their way around. But that was part of the fun for fans who bought $5 tickets or received freebies through area community groups. The announced attendance was 22,397"—and most attendees were wandering around, getting a lay of the land for the seasons ahead.
Besides 42,000 seats, there's a wide array of concession snacks (which are about 6.5% cheaper than they were at Shea). Citi Field may be a pitcher's park, as the NY Times goes over some details, "Even in the few moments it took him to bounce the ceremonial first pitch, the former Mets reliever [and St. John's alum] John Franco noticed the park would play large. Left-center field is 379 feet from home plate, right-center 383, before the fence breaks in sharply near the foul poles." Oh, and there are 646 restrooms, too.
Mets VP of business operations Dave Howard explained many things are still being done, like hanging up signs and retired jerseys or working on the escalators. Howard said, "Overall, a very good day for us," in spite of some kinks—"It is gratifying for us to have the energy the fans bring. That's the one equation we hadn't seen yet." For an in-depth perspective of the ballpark from a fan, MetsGrrl has two invaluable posts: One from a preview ("the SEATING is not cramped") and one from yesterday's NCAA game—"Expect long lines for photo ops at the Home Run Apple and the 42 in the Rotunda... I don’t expect this to let up for the entire first year." She also notes that some people went into Citi Field in their Yankees gears, "Do you always have to be pompous blowhards about your team everywhere you go, every minute of every day?"
More photos of the stadium from wallyg, Lizzy Vegas, MetsGrrl and Yankees_Rule. Unfortunately, the Red Storm lost (final score Georgetown 6, St. John's 4). And some still mourn Shea: One person told NY1, "I miss the blue building. It's sad to see it in rubble over there on the side. It's nothing like being in New York." The Mets' home opener is April 13, vs. the Padres.
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You couldn't even proof read the first sentence in your own entry?
So pathetic.
Mets grrl is a pain in the balls
I thought they were going to change the name from citi field to something else.
I would enjoy watching Mr. Met hang by a noose.
that arpielle equipment advertisement cracks me up. they have a brand new, top notch stadium and they have an ad that came straight out of the pennysaver on the main screen.
a bit of old shea.
At least our stadium (Yankee Stadium) is called by our team name and not some thieving bank.
As a Mets fan, I have to agree with you, fugothamist. Why not Metropolitan Field?
The Yankees are hoping to make a seamless transition to, what is now, the third version of Yankee Stadium. It's good for their "brand" to keep the illusion of permanence.
And be not mistaken, they will whore out every other inch of the stadium to whoever is willing to pay. Their ticket prices are also the most expensive, by far, of all the MLB teams. But hey, at least it's called Yankee Stadium, right?
As for Citifield, at least it doesn't look like a bank.
Oops. Was replying to edEx, not fugothamist. Must remember down some coffee before logging on. :0
looks like a nice stadium. well done
it does appear to be a little bit more fan friendly and accessible to the average fan than the new Yankee Stadium
too bad the mets play there
looks like a nice stadium. well done
it does appear to be a little bit more fan friendly and accessible to the average fan than the new Yankee Stadium
too bad the mets play there
Heyo! Try the veal, he'll be here all week.
I was at the stadium yesterday and walked the entire place. My purchased seats were in section 537 (left field all the way up top behind the outfield wall) which are terrible. You cannot see the warning track or left field wall. You are very far from the action. Any section behind the outfield wall (other than field box) is not a great seat. If you stick between the foul poles you're ok. There are obstructed view seats if you sit in the lower rows of the 2nd and 3rd tiers. Much of this is due to strange plexiglass situated between sections. Just google citifield obstructed views and you'll see examples of the problems. You'd think in 2009 there wouldn't be any obstructed views in a new ballpark...
If you can afford them the field box seats are incredible. Every seat faces the action unlike Shea's dual design (football and baseball) where the left field and right field seats faced centerfield. There are concessions and bathrooms everywhere and the park has a much more open feel than Shea. Overall it's great. Just be aware of the obstructions by doing a little research before plunking down your money for bad seats.
Citigroup can use these shots for their new "Lose With Class" ad campaign.
Fitting that Mo Vaughn's number 42 is prominently displayed in the rotunda
What? That's Butch Husky's number.